Rebar system for use with concrete reinforcing bars

Abstract

A rebar system having a sleeve, a clamp that has at least one or a plurality of clamp members and a threaded member which engages the clamp members and urges them in the sleeve in a manner that causes a radial dimension between the clamp members to be reduced until the clamp engages a concrete reinforcing bar and clamps thereagainst.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rebar system for mounting on a concrete reinforcement bar, said rebar system comprising:
 a sleeve having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion joining said first end and said second end, said sleeve having a bore therethrough and a tapered wall defining at least one engaging surface, at least one of said first end or second end having a sleeve threaded surface;   a clamp disposed within the sleeve, said clamp being adapted to receive said concrete reinforcing bar and to be driven axially in the bore and against said tapered wall of said sleeve to cause a radial dimension of said clamp to be reduced until said clamp engages the concrete reinforcement bar and clamps thereagainst; and   a threaded member for threadably engaging said sleeve threaded surface and for engaging said clamp upon relative rotation of said sleeve and said threaded member in order to force said clamp to move axially within said bore and against said tapered wall of said sleeve to force a radial dimension of said clamp to be reduced, thereby causing said clamp to engage said concrete reinforcement bar and securing said rebar system to said concrete reinforcement bar.   
     
     
         2 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said clamp has a plurality of clamping members, each having an external clamp tapered wall that cooperates with said tapered wall of said sleeve to force said plurality of clamp members together upon said relative rotation of said sleeve and said threaded member. 
     
     
         3 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said tapered wall of said sleeve and said external clamp tapered wall are at least partially frusto-conical. 
     
     
         4 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of clamping members define a first clamping member and a second clamping member that are spaced from each other after receiving said concrete reinforcement bar therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 4  wherein each of said first clamping member and said second clamping member have an internal wall having serrations thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve threaded surface defines a threaded area in said sleeve, and said tapered wall of said sleeve defines a clamp receiving area for receiving said clamp before said concrete reinforcing bar is inserted into said clamp. 
     
     
         7 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said clamp has a plurality of clamping members, each having an external clamp tapered wall that cooperates with said tapered wall of said sleeve to force said plurality of clamp members together upon said relative rotation of said sleeve and said threaded member. 
     
     
         8 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 7  wherein said tapered wall of said sleeve and said external clamp tapered wall are at least partially frusto-conical. 
     
     
         9 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 8  wherein said plurality of clamping members define a first clamping member and a second clamping member that are spaced from each other after receiving said concrete reinforcement bar therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 9  wherein each of said first clamping member and said second clamping member have an internal wall having serrations thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The rebar system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sleeve of the rebar system is mounted on a terminating end of the concrete reinforcing bar. 
     
     
         12 . A rebar system, comprising:
 a plurality of sleeves having a first end, an opposite second end and a bore extending therethrough sized to allow several rebar members to extend into said plurality of sleeves, said first end having an internal frusto-conical surface and said opposite second end having an internal threaded surface;   at least two coupling members disposed within said plurality of sleeves, each of said at least two coupling members having an outer frusto-conical surface that is complimentary to said internal frusto-conical surface of said plurality of sleeves; and   a threaded body having outer threaded surfaces configured to threadably engage said internal threaded surface of said plurality of sleeves and an annular opening sized to receive said rebar members;   wherein rotation of at least one of said plurality of sleeves and said threaded body relative to each other in a predetermined direction causes said threaded body to urge said at least two coupling members in a direction toward said first end to reduce a radial spacing between said at least two coupling members and into secure engagement with said rebar members.